Fire-escape



M. SOHOLL.

(No Model.)

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patentgd Sept. 11, 1883.

- INVENIUE...

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL SOHOLL, OF SAL FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.-284,763, datedSeptember 11, 1883.

Application filed February 27, 1883. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL SOHOLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented a certain new and Improved PortableFire-Escape, of which the following is a specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my fire-escape. Fig-2 isan edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view, showing the device inposition upon the escape-rope, and Fig. i is an edge view of the same,Fig. 5 is a general view, showing the suspended escape-rope with myimproved device attached thereto, together with a sling for theconvenience of the passenger. Fig. 6 shows the sling and manner ofattaching it to the block.

Similar letters of reference are used to designate like parts throughoutthe several views.

A represents my friction-block, which isconstructed of any suitablematerial, wood being preferable. It is made rectangular in form,

with the lower edge, B, rounded off, as shown, so that it may pass anyobstacles without interruption. Along each edge of the block are made aseries of openings or cuts, 0, which communicate with the dead-eyes D1), within which the lowering rope or cable E is wound, and along whichthe block moves in the act of lowering the person. The edges ofthese deadeyes are rounded off and made smooth as shown, to avoid abrading theescape-rope, and shallow grooves E are made upon the flat or wide facesof the block, which communicate in a diagonal line with each series ofdead-eyes upon both faces of the block, as shown in Fig. 1, and groovesF are made at the upper end of the block, upon both sides, at thetermination of the two upper dead-eyes, extending to the top of theblock, and receive each arm of the cable and balance the weight upon theblock when in operation. The upper end of the block is pierced at G, toreceive the end of a cord for lowering a person, or recovering the blockafter it has carried a person to the ground below, and this cord may beattached to any permanent fastening in the room, having a line longenough, however, to reach the pavement below, and a hole or opening,I-I,is made in theblock below the dead-eyes, through in Fig. 6.) Anyform of sling may be used- -in connection with my friction-block; but Iprefer to use the form shown in Fig. 6, which consists of two pieces ofwebbing attached together at right angles to each other. The onedesignated by the letter J is placed around the waist of the person,while the piece letl tered J is passed down the back and between themiddle or legs and brought up in front. The outer end of this sling isprovided with rings K, and when in position lap against one another, andthe looped cord I is then passed through the rings and bent over anddown upon itself on the block. The opposite end of the loop is thenpassed through the hole H and the slaclelooped over the end of theblock, as shown, thus firmly securing the sling to the block.

I11 practice the lowering cable or rope is doubled or folded in themiddle and the two lines dogged around the block in the deadeyes, asshown in ig. 3, when the slack or folded end is attached to a bedsteadin the I apartment, or a permanent object, and the sling passed aroundthe person and connected to the block, as hereinbefore described, whenthe descent is made, the block cushioning along the two arms or lines ofthe loweringcable, with its free ends reaching the ground or pavementbelow.

It should here be observed that in making the descent the block isalways under the control of the person descending. By simply graspingloosely with one hand or the fingers the two lowering lines or cablesjust below the lower end of the friction-block its further descent willbe instantaneously arrested. v

So, also, can this stoppage be effected by a person upon the sidewalkbelow by-bringing the lines together and pulling lightly downward, whichact will arrest the downward progress of theperson in the sling,as thetwo are caused to bind and engage the lower end of the friction-blockand check it at once.

I am aware that a portable fire-escape composed of a sling connected toa spirally-grooved friction-block has been heretofore used; but this Ido not claim. In such devices the'escape-rope, unless carefullyadjusted, is liable to become disengaged from the spirallygrooved blooka difiiculty that is avoided by forming the friction-block withdead-eyes that open into transverse cuts in the edge of the block, saiddead-eyes being connected on each side of the block by diagonal grooves,and the escape-rope being doubled and dogged into the dead-eyes anddiagonal grooves, as here'- inbefore explained.

It will also be observed that as the escaperope E can thus be applied tothe block without being threaded and drawn through, as usual, it beingonly necessaryto pass it through the transverse cuts 0 into thedead-eyes D and grooves E, the connection of the parts can be effectedwith great rapidity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described fire-escape, consisting of the block A, havingdead-eyes D, transverse cuts 0, diagonal grooves E, connecting saiddead-eyes, vertical grooves F and openings G H, the rope or cable E,sling J J, having rings K, and the loops I, all combined substantiallyas shown and described.

In testin1ony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal.

MICHAEL SOHOLL. [L. s]

\Vitnesses:

O. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY.

